Join Our Team

 

 Thanks for your interest in the Battlefield Area Star Swimmers (BASS) a year round USA swimming program. BASS is composed of practice groups at two locations (North - Madison and South - Fluvanna) to meet the needs of the beginning level swimmer (those who can complete 25 yards of freestyle and one other stroke) through those competing on state and national levels. Our philosophy is to help swimmers be “the best they can be” through goal setting and appropriate training. North practices are held at the Barbee Center pool at Woodberry Forest School east of Orange, Virginia. For those interested in our Fluvanna location that practices outside of Lake Monticello, please contact cos.difazio@gmail.com for the appropriate forms and information.

 

       BASS has developed a reputation over the last decade as a team that develops outstanding swimmers in and out of the pool. Our professional coaching staff has over 95 years of coaching experience. With over 60 years of those years in the BASS program, our stability is unmatched in the state of Virginia. Additionally, the dedication of our parents and swimmers has led to our success from state champion swimmers to National / Olympic Trial Qualifiers.

 

      Our 2009-10 practice schedule begins on September 14 and concludes on May 14. A swimmer may opt to continue with the summer program which will begin May 17 and finishes after all championship meets. More information on the summer program can be found later in this print-out.

 

      Upon payment of the non-refundable registration fee and acceptance into BASS, there are several convenient payment plans. Each family provides a Credit Card number.   The seasonal rate option is available for those who wish to prepay and save approximately 10% of the total fee;   otherwise, nine (9) equal monthly payments can be made.   In either case, full payment is not contingent on swimmer participation.

 

1.     New Members - Please complete the registration pages and return with your non-refundable registration fee to our team Mail Box - P.O. Box 130 Culpeper, Va. 22701.  

2.     AllBASS members attend Final Registration on August 30^th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Powell Wellness Center in Culpeper.  BASS members should attend our season kick-off picnic on September 13 starting at 3 PM at a location TBD.

3.     All BASS members and a parent attend practice on September 14 or 15 for a required team orientation meeting.    Swimmers will not be allowed in the water until orientation is complete!

WHITE:   White I     M/W        White II   T/TH       5:40pm - 6:30pm (in pool)     

 

RED:                                 M, T, W, TH                        5:40pm – 6:40pm (in pool)

 

 

 

PRE/SENIOR:      M, T, W, TH        5:35pm – 7:45pm (in pool)             FR 5:00pm – 6:30pm (in pool)

 

 

FRIDAY OPTION:    This program is for swimmers in the White (9 and over); Red, Purple or Blue groups who wish to add an extra day to their schedule for flexibility and preparation to compete at the state level. White and Red groups will practice Fridays from 5:15 – 6:30pm at Woodberry.    Purple and Blue groups will practice Fridays from 5:00 – 6:30pm at Woodberry.

 

SUMMER PROGRAM:   Although the BASS winter program doesn’t end until May, we will begin “long course” training after our formal spring break. This year, our spring break for all winter members will be from March 28 – April 11.    In the summer of 2010 we will offer a ten-week summer program for all swimmers that are eligible for the Red, Purple, Blue and Pre/Senior groups.   In order to compete at the state and national level swimmers who are members of the Pre/Senior group must be in the summer program and are expected to participate. Afternoon practices will be M, T, Th and F from May 18 through June 13 from 4:15pm – 6:15pm. Morning practices will run between 7 AM and 9 AM weekdays from June 16 through Aug 1. During morning practices we anticipate 1 practice per week in a “long course” 50 meter pool to prepare for summer competition.    For the Blue Purple and Red group swimmers electing to join this summer program and register prior to the beginning of the winter season, the early registration price will be equal to one month’s dues. If you elect to join the summer program at a later date (space permitting) the cost will be equal to two month’s dues. 

 

HOME MEETS:     Please mark your calendars and plan to participate in our 2009 – 10 home meets on January 3, 2010 and January 31 – February 1, 2010.    Our home meets are fun, they are a great way to earn volunteer points and our collective member effort raises a significant amount of funds for our team which helps keep our membership fees low!!

 

PURPOSE: The use of the facilities at Woodberry by BASS is a very special privilege. We want to consistently demonstrate to the Woodberry community that we are an organization that is willing to foster responsibility in our children. Each swimmer, parent and family member will agree to adhere to the following:

 

1.     Driving & Parking: Please drive in a safe manner on the Woodberry grounds. Obey the posted speed limit.   Park in the first lot that you come to at the Barbee Center. Follow the sidewalk to the appropriate entrance. Do not walk on the grass.    A BASS auto decal must be affixed on the driver’s side of each family car that enters Woodberry Forest grounds.

2.     Under no circumstances may swimmers be left unattended at Woodberry until they are on deck with a coach present.

3.     Barbee Center

a)     Food and smoking are not allowed in the building.

b)     All swimmers must dress and undress in the assigned locations. Since we share these facilities with others, personal items left in the changing areas are left at your own risk.

c)     No one is permitted to enter the indoor track area, squash courts, racquetball courts, or kitchen facilities. Parents are welcome to use the couches and chairs provided in the lobby after 6:00 pm.

d)     If a sibling is forced to wait on another, please have them bring homework or another quiet activity such as a board game. Running and horseplay are not permitted anywhere at Woodberry. Parents are expected to enforce this rule vigorously.

e)     All standard safety rules apply within the pool area.

f)      Parents are not allowed on the pool deck during practice. Please wait until after practice or schedule an appointment to speak with a coach.

1.     No weapons are allowed on Woodberry property.

2.     Swimmers will not use or possess alcohol, tobacco products, or illegal drugs.

3.     All swimmers are expected to turn in a copy of their report card to their coach each marking period. Grades will be kept in confidence.

4.     Honor: Lying, cheating, evasiveness and stealing will not be tolerated. The purpose of our honor system is to instill in each swimmer that he/she can be trusted.    BASS swimmers are good sports both in and out of the water, in support of their fellow swimmers and in the face of competition. Taunting and bullying is never tolerated.

 

SWIMMERS & PARENTS: Please remember that your behavior is a reflection of the BASS swim team. You will be required to indicate your acceptance of these rules by signing elsewhere in this document.    Any infraction of these rules will be dealt with on an individual basis by the BASS board or staff.

 

Kevin McHaney (coach_kevin@SwimBASS.org), who is in his 30th year of coaching, heads our coaching staff. Kevin received his B.S. in Sport Management, M Ed. in Counseling and a School Administration endorsement from UVA. A former Virginia All-Star swimmer and coach, he is the Real Estate Broker/Owner for RE/MAX New Horizons. He has been the leader of the BASS program since its’ inception 18 years ago. Kevin is involved with all age groups and leads the summer programs.

 

Chris Taylor (coach_chris@SwimBASS.org) is in his 15th year with BASS and is involved with all swimmers as our Head Age Group coach. Chris swam at Clemson University and was a two-time National YMCA champion and Olympic Trial Qualifier. He is a Database Analyst for UVA Hospital and has coached in swim programs for 19 years. He is a former VA All-Star coach and heads the Greene Hills Gators summer team.

 

Janet McDonnell (coach_janet@SwimBASS.org) is in her 11th year with the BASS program. Janet is a Hall of Fame swimmer for Clemson University and qualified for Olympic Trials. She is a sixth grade teacher at Culpeper Middle School and former Head Coach for the Culpeper Rec. Club summer team.

 

Shari Jacobs (coach_sherie@SwimBASS.org) is in her 5th year coaching with BASS. Shari began competitive swimming at age 8, continued on through four years of varsity swimming at Swarthmore College, and continues to swim as part of her triathlon training.  She is a resident of Woodberry Forest, where she taught and coached for WFS and BASS teams prior to the birth of her son.

 

Cherie Adair (coach_cherie@SwimBASS.org) is in her 5th year on the BASS coaching staff. She has coached for 15 years for USS clubs, high school teams, Masters and Summer league programs and currently at Greene Hills. She was MAC Conference champion and NCAA qualifier at Miami University in Ohio.

 

 

Joe Fischer (coach_joe@swimBASS.org) is in his 6th year with the BASS program. He is the former Head swim coach for Woodberry Forest and formerly coached at the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School and at St. George’s School. He is currently a mathematics teacher at Woodberry.

 

R.J Claus (coach_rj@SwimBASS.org) is in his 3rd year as a coach and is a veteran swimmer of the BASS swim team. He joined the team in its first year - September 1991 and swam for 10 consecutive years. He has also coached with the Culpeper Rec. Club. RJ graduated from West Virginia University with an Aerospace Engineering degree and works in Manassas.

 

Gigi deToll (coach_gigi@swimBASS.org) is in her 3rd year coaching with BASS after having been a swimmer on BASS for 12 years. She still holds Va. State records and was the ACC champion in the 100 Fly while at U of Maryland. She is currently employed by Child help USA and is working towards another degree in Nursing.

 

 

Cos DiFazio (coach_cos@SwimBASS.org) is in his 12th year with BASS.  He has 18 years of head coaching experience at the USS level and is regarded as one of the finest stroke technicians in Virginia. He is the Head Site Coach for the BASS South Fluvanna program.